I loved this collection of essays Ehrlich wrote when she moved to Wyoming and sporadically worked as a hand on local ranches. The essays felt very intimate but were also universal. Ehrlich has a knack for discerning details about people and places that are essential to them. The respect for the land and people is palpable in this book.

The title is a bit misleading as Ehrlich talks mostly about people and meaningful connections she made. I especially liked how she dismantled the stereotypical romanticized image of a "Marlboro man" by describing real cowboys and women among them.

The language is beautiful. I underlined many memorable sentences and passages. There were a lot of descriptions I didn't care for much, esp. related to animal husbandry, taking care of sheep, cattle, and horses, but I didn't mind. ( )

The Solace of Open Spaces by Gretel Ehrlich is a set of descriptive essays about the American West, in particular Wyoming, and the ranching way of life. My husband and I spent many of our holidays on driving trips throughout the west, and Wyoming, was one of our favorite destinations so I loved reading about the natural beauty and isolation of this magnificent state. Ehrlich was grieving the death of her partner when she came to Wyoming and found this a perfect place to recover. As a poet and a filmmaker she has both the eye and the words to paint a vivid picture of the place and the way of life that she found there.

There are twelve essays that comprise the book, each one dealing with a different aspect or adventure that she experienced. Sheep herding, attending rodeo, or Indigenous events all come to life under her pen. Personally my favorite essays were the ones that found her describing the scenery, nature and unexpected weather conditions. From the Wind River to the Big Horn Mountains, this is a special place and she captures the uniqueness of both the land and the people who live there with depth and humor.

Both meditative and descriptive, The Solace of Open Spaces explores a region of breathtaking mountains and colorful high plains. The author knows Wyoming and we, the readers, are invited to visit and soak up these open spaces for a short while. ( )

Some of the best writing of this genre. Her phrases resonate. ( )

That high western essay. A classic I am sure I first came across at my grandparents in Alma, this copy was picked up at The Dusty Bookshelf in Lawrence a dozen years ago. Finally read over the course of a day when I was feeling low. I will never again care for stock, but could sure use the hermitage now and again. Mine will be out on the Olympic Peninsula, hopefully sooner than later... ( )

This was a well written and entertaining book. I felt very moved by the descriptions and impressions of life in the West. ( )